1. The last two weeks, our team has performed with a crispness and attention to performance that you don't see many other places in college football. I think we're more talented than in recent seasons, and think most of the credit goes to the players. But there is a new tone in this group that is noticeable. They really do care about each other. You could see the rudiments of it happening last season. But Coach Riley has taken it to a whole new level. The future is bright for a lot of reasons, but he is the number one reason. In the chess match that often is football, he is Kasparov.
2. In that vein, has anybody else noticed that OUr offense is going slower on purpose. We still have a little hurry up, but it's now the exception, or at least has been for two games. And I believe part of the reasoning is to lengthen the time the defense gets some rest, and decrease the number of snaps for everybody. It's a good idea. Kind of odd that the guy who is truly from the Leach School of Offense would slow things down, but he has. And the results seem more than a little encouraging.
3. I know that Murray is a quality quarterback, but there is a clear difference to these eyes between he and Baker. Murray plays in the offense. Baker runs it. He wills it. He masters it. Maybe Kyler will, but not yet. Being in baseball most of the summer might have something to do with it.
4. When Joe Gibbs won three Super Bowls in DC, the staple of their offense was known as counter trey. It involves both the offside tackle and guard pulling across the center and leading the back into the other tackle hole. They did it in an I Formation with John Riggins becoming a Hall of Famer. We're doing it from a spread, and it's very effective most snaps. For guys like Brown and Evans to get there across the formation consistently, while still being elite college pass blockers is a tribute to a whole lot of people. It's OUr most effective running strategy.
5. The radio broadcast of OU football games seems to have disappeared from Dallas. I didn't try to listen during the game, but went to the station for the last five or six years for the post game last night, and pregame last week, and there was nothing to find. Dammit.
6. Best pair of Sooner corners since Thompson and Strait. 17 years ago.
7. I watched a lot of football yesterday. There are darned few college quarterbacks who look even competent. It's a pretty big difference between that, and what Baker is putting out there. Love having such a competitor.
8. Loved the big boy football look with Sermon and Anderson.
9. I'm thinking this class might end up with a 5 star or two.
10. In the press box interview, BStoops looked like he was five or six inches shorter than Kirk and even shorter than his OSU pr play by play accomplice, Rece. Surprised me. I tried to look up Bob's height, and couldn't find it online anywhere.
11. The Big XII was a Cyclone brain fart away from sweeping the P5 competition yesterday, with TCU's thumping of the SEC. And I WILL be pulling for UT next week, reluctantly. But I hope they cream USC. In case you missed it. Buechele was sat yesterday for the true freshman Ehlinger with a bit more mobility. And Herd played qb on the goal line. If the last few years teaches us anything, they'll challenge us no matter what happens next week.
12. Very hopeful that OUr team uses last night as a springboard, and doesn't start being too influenced by their suddenly positive press clippings.
I have more, but there will already be length complaints, by the attention challenged.
1
2. In that vein, has anybody else noticed that OUr offense is going slower on purpose. We still have a little hurry up, but it's now the exception, or at least has been for two games. And I believe part of the reasoning is to lengthen the time the defense gets some rest, and decrease the number of snaps for everybody. It's a good idea. Kind of odd that the guy who is truly from the Leach School of Offense would slow things down, but he has. And the results seem more than a little encouraging.
3. I know that Murray is a quality quarterback, but there is a clear difference to these eyes between he and Baker. Murray plays in the offense. Baker runs it. He wills it. He masters it. Maybe Kyler will, but not yet. Being in baseball most of the summer might have something to do with it.
4. When Joe Gibbs won three Super Bowls in DC, the staple of their offense was known as counter trey. It involves both the offside tackle and guard pulling across the center and leading the back into the other tackle hole. They did it in an I Formation with John Riggins becoming a Hall of Famer. We're doing it from a spread, and it's very effective most snaps. For guys like Brown and Evans to get there across the formation consistently, while still being elite college pass blockers is a tribute to a whole lot of people. It's OUr most effective running strategy.
5. The radio broadcast of OU football games seems to have disappeared from Dallas. I didn't try to listen during the game, but went to the station for the last five or six years for the post game last night, and pregame last week, and there was nothing to find. Dammit.
6. Best pair of Sooner corners since Thompson and Strait. 17 years ago.
7. I watched a lot of football yesterday. There are darned few college quarterbacks who look even competent. It's a pretty big difference between that, and what Baker is putting out there. Love having such a competitor.
8. Loved the big boy football look with Sermon and Anderson.
9. I'm thinking this class might end up with a 5 star or two.
10. In the press box interview, BStoops looked like he was five or six inches shorter than Kirk and even shorter than his OSU pr play by play accomplice, Rece. Surprised me. I tried to look up Bob's height, and couldn't find it online anywhere.
11. The Big XII was a Cyclone brain fart away from sweeping the P5 competition yesterday, with TCU's thumping of the SEC. And I WILL be pulling for UT next week, reluctantly. But I hope they cream USC. In case you missed it. Buechele was sat yesterday for the true freshman Ehlinger with a bit more mobility. And Herd played qb on the goal line. If the last few years teaches us anything, they'll challenge us no matter what happens next week.
12. Very hopeful that OUr team uses last night as a springboard, and doesn't start being too influenced by their suddenly positive press clippings.
I have more, but there will already be length complaints, by the attention challenged.
1